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What's Going On |
March 7, 2010
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I guess it's time to tell you what's going on in my life because you'll find out sooner or later. It's not a secret; I just wasn't ready to talk about it yet. I am now, at least enough to write this. I'm sure I will write more in the fullness of time.
My youngest daughter was found dead in her apartment on Friday afternoon. Cause and manner of death are unknown until the Coroner finishes his investigation, but foul play did not seem to be a factor.
At the time of her death, she was carrying my fifth grandchild, Joseph Kyle D'Andrea. She was looking forward to being a mom, and would have been a great one. Sadly, there will never be a Joseph Kyle D'Andrea. That makes this a double tragedy.
Carina was a wonderfully talented person. She was good at everything she tried. She wrestled with some problems in adult life--alcoholism and bipolar disorder--but inside she had a huge heart and was the most sensitive, caring person you can imagine.
Friends of hers who I have called over the past couple of days have told me the same thing. She was the most loyal friend each of them had, often going to bat for them when they were in trouble. Even though she was broke most of the time ($510 rent plus utilities, gas, food, etc. on a $550 biweekly paycheck), she would loan money to any friend in need. They rarely paid her back. Two weeks ago, a friend of hers got busted for DUI. Who did he call? His brother? No. He called Carina. Pregnant and sick, she went and claimed him at the Sheriff's Office at 3:30 AM and drove him home. She had empathy, a rare quality in people.
She would go to bat for me when I needed it, too. From time to time, you might have noticed that whenever someone would dump on me in the Comments section, there would be a post defending me from someone named "LittleD." That was Carina. Little Dee. Her father's daughter, attacking my attackers.
This is going to be a huge hole in my life that will be impossible to fill. That's why I won't be able to write for a while. (Readers have already supplied four guest posts, which will appear soon. Please keep them positive. I'm not up for negativism right now.)
For the last 27 years, I have spent every minute of every day taking care of Carina, even when she was an adult. She was pretty high-maintenance. Because she wasn't eligible for maternity leave, she was going to move in with us to provide for her child doing temp work until she could go back to work full time. She never made it.
I am really, really going to miss her. She understood me, and I understood her.
A few years ago, when the Daily Blog was less than a year old, I wrote a rare blog that didn't involve cursing at politicians. It was about her.
I'd like you to read it just to see why I am going to miss her so much.
It's here: http://www.junctiondailyblog.com/index.php?article=241
Please hug your children. If they live out of town, call them and tell them how much you love them. Right now. Don't delay. |
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